Choosing Between A 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan and 2014 Kia Sportage for Towing

Question:

I am looking to tow a small cargo trailer around 800-900 lb unloaded, 1200-1500 lb loaded occasionally. I am looking at a couple of used SUVs to accomplish this and as most are not equipped with tow packages I plan on purchasing your products to accomplish this. I understand the rating of the various hitches and my expected capacity seems well within the range. When it comes to vehicle tow ratings however the information is a little less clear. The two cars I am considering now are a 2014 Kia Sportage LX with a listed towing capacity of 2000 lb, and 2014 VW Tiguan S with a listed capacity of 2200 lb. Are these numbers accurate when self-installing a trailer hitch without further modifying the vehicle? Will I need additional feature such as a transmission cooler? I will be towing around 1,000 miles every 3-6 months so I want to ensure that I have the proper capacity, even if that means I have to look into larger vehicles. Thanks!

asked by: Brandon

Expert Reply:

According to the owner's manual for a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan S, the maximum towing capacity is 2,200 lbs if the trailer has brakes or 1,650 lbs if the trailer doesn't have brakes. According to the owner's manual for a 2014 Kia Sportage LX, the maximum towing capacity is 2,000 lbs if the trailer has brakes or 1,000 lbs if the trailer doesn't have brakes. This will hold true if the vehicle has a factory tow package and comes with a factory trailer hitch or it does not have a factory tow package and you install an aftermarket trailer hitch. The towing capacity of either vehicle will not change based on whether or not it came with the factory tow package.

In order to tow a small cargo trailer with either vehicle you will need a trailer hitch, trailer wiring harness, and ball mount/hitch ball. For the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan S, I recommend both the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part # C13133 and the T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness part # 118675. For the 2014 Kia Sportage LX, I recommend both the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part # C13120 and the T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness part # 118526.

The Curt trailer hitches are both custom fits so no drilling is required, are made in the USA, and come with a lifetime warranty. The black powdered coated finish also works to protect from rust. The Tekonsha wiring harnesses are also both custom fits which means you don't have to do any splicing. We have found over the years that this brand tends to be the most reliable.

For a ball mount/hitch ball that should work on either vehicle, I recommend the Ball Mount Kit part # 989900 which you can use the attached help article to be sure it works. The use of a transmission cooler is not required but it will work to extend the life of your vehicle's transmission therefore will be a good idea to use one. The Derale Series 8000 Plate-Fin Transmission Cooler Kit part # D13504 will work on either vehicle and it comes with everything that you need.

I have attached several install/review videos for you on these above products as well as photos of both hitches installed.